Ballack named Germany's Footballer of Year

Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack was named Germany's Footballer of the Year on Wednesday after topping an annual poll of the country's sports writers by Kicker magazine.

Ballack, who helped Bayer Leverkusen to the Champions League final last season and his country to the World Cup final in July, got 433 votes.

That was enough to beat his club and international team mate Oliver Kahn, who was second with 345 votes. Goalkeeper Kahn was the winner in 2000 and 2001.

It was the first time that 25-year-old Ballack had claimed the honour, which has been awarded each year since 1960.

Ballack, a tall and graceful midfielder with an uncanny ability to score in clutch situations, netted 17 goals for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last season.

Other players receiving votes in the poll were Kaiserslautern striker Miroslav Klose with 35 votes, Bernd Schneider of Leverkusen with 21 votes and Marco Bode of Werder Bremen with seven votes.

Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmoeller was voted Coach of the Year with 396 votes ahead of Borussia Dortmund's Matthias Sammer, who got 163 votes. Dortmund won the Bundesliga title and reached the finals of the UEFA Cup.

Germany coach Rudi Voeller was third with 161 votes.